Internet celebrity "The United Strand" Frank Ilett set a challenge last year: he would only cut his continuously growing hair when Manchester United achieved five consecutive wins.
In an interview with The Sun, the 29-year-old fan denied that he had made a fortune through media exposure and commercial collaborations over the past 16 months.
He has 25 centimeters of hair, but there is no six-figure sum in his bank account. After 495 days without a haircut, a viral Manchester United fan refuted claims that he had "earned millions of pounds" through online platforms. The die-hard United fan, named Frank Ilett, is now just one win away from finally cutting his hair. This will be his first haircut in 16 months.
The challenge started in October 2024, when the team was still managed by Erik ten Hag. But during Ruben Amorim's subsequent tenure, the process was significantly prolonged—United took a year to barely achieve a two-game winning streak once. Now, current manager Michael Carrick is almost "holding the scissors." If they beat West Ham United on Tuesday, Frank can go to the barber shop. In an interview with The Sun, the 29-year-old fan denied that he had made a fortune through media exposure and commercial collaborations over the past 16 months.
Frank said: "I am definitely not the millionaire everyone thinks I am. There have been rumors that I earned millions of pounds from this, but that's not the case. The income from this matter is not as high as people think, but I didn't do this for money in the first place."
Although he has collaborated with brands like Paddy Power, started an e-commerce business, and interacted with celebrities like Aitch online, the real "cost" of this experience comes more from life itself.
Frank said bluntly: "The worst part is actually almost not being able to see clearly. Luckily, I wear glasses— the frames can prop up the bangs a little. Most of the time now I can't see very well; it's really time to cut it."
The fan, who is from Oxford and now lives in Spain, will live stream during the match, hoping to end this nearly 500-day wait. He is still waiting for his agent to finalize the most suitable collaboration plan for this "big haircut." If he finally gets the haircut, Frank will donate the cut hair to the UK charity "Little Princess Trust," which provides wigs for children who have lost their hair due to illness.
Frank said: "I'm also fundraising for them; so far, I've raised about 6,000 pounds. This is a really great charity, and the people there are very nice. My hair is now 25 centimeters long, and luckily, it has reached the standard for donation."
Meanwhile, Frank has also signed with Argos to become its "official delivery partner" to quickly provide tools needed for haircutting and care. His thick curly hair has even been compared to the most famous "hairstyles" in the club's history. He joked: "Marouane Fellaini is definitely a better player, but I think my hair might have surpassed his now."
As attention has risen, curly hair care brands have contacted Frank for collaborations, and fans have asked him for autographs around Old Trafford, including after the intense Europa League match against Lyon. However, he has also experienced the dark side of fan culture. After Manchester United beat Chelsea 2-1 in September last year, someone roughly pulled his hair— fortunately, other spectators stepped in to stop it in time. The club then intervened to investigate and imposed an indefinite ban on the perpetrator. Frank admitted that when Manchester United turned to look for an interim manager in January, he "had already given up all hope." But Carrick has orchestrated a remarkable recovery, becoming the first manager to truly bring him to the "doorstep of a haircut." After consecutive wins against Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham, and Tottenham Hotspur, Carrick believes that West Ham United, currently third from bottom in the Premier League table, will pose a completely different test for the team.
Frank said: "Jarrod Bowen is definitely a threat. Another one I'm a bit worried about is Aaron Wan-Bissaka— he always plays well against his former club. He was actually underestimated during his time at Manchester United. But I think Carrick beating West Ham United, which he used to play for, is almost written in the script. He also played for Tottenham before, which was the last match. All of this seems like a perfect ending."
When talking about the manager candidate, Frank believes that if Carrick continues his current performance, he should be seriously considered for the long-term manager position. He said: "If he can keep up with the current results, or even the level of play the team is showing now, he should definitely be seriously considered. However, my top choice is still Thomas Tuchel— before signing Amorim, he was the manager I most wanted Manchester United to hire. Carlo Ancelotti should also be in the discussion."
However, he also admitted that if he had to choose between his personal challenge and the team's honor, the answer is not complicated. Frank finally said: "If I really have to choose, I am willing to sacrifice myself. As long as we can win the league title, I can skip this haircut."
rafaeljoel
12
No hate my afro is more natural from African hair similar to that of Fellini....than 100%than this guy